Spanish Style One Pot Chicken Orzo

This Spanish Style Chicken Orzo is not only bursting with flavour, but is all made in one pot, making it THE perfect weeknight dinner!

I really don’t do enough one pot meals on this blog and quite frankly I don’t know why. I hate washing up just as much as the next person. I guess this time round I just couldn’t face the dishes 😂 Any who, thank god I couldn’t, the result is beyond delicious. Follow me…

Spanish Style Chicken Orzo

My Spanish Chicken Tray Bake went down so well with you guys, I’ve been meaning to *attempt* to match it’s success for a while now.

This recipe is similar in flavour, with just a few tweaks. Same with the tray bake though, and the same with every great chicken dinner, let’s start with the marinade.

Spanish Chicken Marinade

Olive Oil

Lemon Juice

Smoked Paprika

Oregano

Garlic Powder

Cayenne Pepper

Salt & Black Pepper

I suggest marinating over night, with an absolute minimum of 30mins.

With regards to what cut of chicken to use, I always go for bone in, skin on chicken thighs. I find them the most flavoursome and they always end up being really juicy. AND you get the bonus of crispy chicken skin. Who doesn’t love crispy chicken skin!?

How to marinate and cook chicken thighs

Add your marinade ingredients into a small bowl.

Combine until evenly blended.

Pour over chicken thighs in a separate larger bowl.

Cover and marinate for up to 12 hours.

Place skin side down over medium high heat until crispy, then turn down to medium, flip and cook until white through the centre.

One Pot Chicken Orzo

The perfect thing about this dish is that the orzo cooks in the pan with all the other ingredients. No pre-cooking needed.

The starch from the orzo actually helps to create a silky, creamy sauce which goes down an absolute treat. Almost like a risotto.

Okay let’s start from removing the chicken thighs.

How to make One Pan Orzo

Fry red pepper and onion until soft.

Add chorizo and garlic, fry for a minute or so longer, then add sun dried tomatoes and olives.

How to make One Pot Chicken Orzo (Full Recipe & Video)

Spanish Style One Pot Chicken Orzo

This Spanish Style Chicken Orzo is not only bursting with flavour, but is all made in one pot, making it THE perfect weeknight dinner!

Marinade

4-6 Chicken Thighs (bone in, skin on)

2 tbsp each: Olive Oil, Lemon Juice

2 tsp Smoked Paprika

1.5 tsp Oregano

1 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp each: Garlic Powder, Cayenne Pepper

1/4 tsp Black Pepper

One Pot Ingredients

2 cups Orzo

3-4cups / 750ml-1litre Chicken Stock, or as needed

5.3oz / 150g Chorizo, diced

3/4cup / 75g Sun Dried Tomatoes, finely diced

1 medium White Onion, finely diced

1/2 medium Red Pepper, finely diced

1/2cup / 40g Olives, diced

1 tbsp Tomato Puree (Tomate Paste in US)

1 clove Garlic, minced

1/2 tsp each: Smoked Paprika, Oregano

Salt & Black Pepper, to taste

Fresh Parsley, to serve

In a small bowl mix together your marinade, then combine in a larger bowl with your chicken. Cover and marinate for up as long as you have time for (up to 12hours).

Fry chicken thighs skin side down over medium-high heat until crispy, then flip, turn down to medium heat and fry until white through the centre. Remove from pan and pour out excess fat, leaving around 1 tsp.

Fry off your tomato puree for a few mins then stir in your orzo until completely coated. Gradually start pouring in your stock, stirring so the orzo doesn’t catch to the pan. Use more/less stock depending on consistency preference (see notes). Season with smoked paprika, oregano and salt & pepper when almost cooked.

Add chicken thighs back on top to heat through and garnish with fresh parsley.

a) Consistency – I like mine Risotto style i.e more liquidy, so I tend to use more stock. If you like your orzo more like dried rice, then only add enough liquid until it’s just about cooked, then pop on a lid, turn heat to a low and let the orzo steam to finish cooking. Either way if you run out of stock then use water.

b) Calories – Based on sharing 6 thighs between 4 people (hefty portions!)